Fugitive accused of ramming Chesco police car is captured in Center City
A South Philadelphia man accused of ramming a stolen vehicle into a police car in Chester County last week - and of nearly running over the officer - was captured in Center City on Wednesday.
A South Philadelphia man accused of ramming a stolen vehicle into a police car in Chester County last week - and of nearly running over the officer - was captured in Center City on Wednesday.
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force had developed leads that Tyrell Winchester, 28, was on Market Street near 18th Street about noon. When he was seen walking on the busy street and positively identified, marshals and Philadelphia police tried to stop him, but he ran, authorities said.
Shortly afterward, on the 1900 block of Market, Winchester was surrounded and captured after a brief struggle, the Marshals Service said.
It was about 4 p.m. last Thursday when Winchester was allegedly driving a silver 2000 Mercury sedan in Willistown Township, Chester County. The car had been reported stolen from a man in Lower Merion.
After a Willistown officer stopped the Mercury and pulled up behind it, Winchester allegedly put the car in reverse, ramming the front of the police car. He then allegedly hit the front of the police car again as he tried to drive away.
When the officer got out of his car and shouted commands at the driver, authorities said, the driver sped forward at the officer, who avoided being struck. Winchester allegedly drove away, crashed the Mercury in a wooded area in the 5000 block of West Chester Pike, and ran away.
Winchester, of the 2000 block of South 20th Street in South Philadelphia, faces charges of attempted murder, fleeing an officer, receiving stolen property, and related offenses.
The Marshals Service on Wednesday handed him over to Willistown authorities.
Winchester was arraigned in the afternoon before a district judge. He is in custody at the Chester County Prison and faces a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
215-854-2592 @julieshawphilly